The Image staff muses on the culture of keeping up appearances

Stella McCartney shows surfing dinosaurs, frilly dresses for kids

Over the weekend there was at least one gathering in L.A. where no one seemed to have Emmys on the brain -- they were too busy petting animals, designing bird cages and eating sweet potato fries.

It was a party organized by Stella McCartney, who invited some of her best friends and their children to her West Hollywood store on Saturday to show off her kids' collection for spring-summer 2012.

From the frilly embroidered cotton dresses to the character-emblazoned T-shirts and onesies displaying the likes of a surfing dinosaur, smiling citrus fruit or a banana dressed as a sheriff, there seemed to be something in the collection for boys and girls of all types.

Selma Blair, Jessica Capshaw, Monet Mazur and Shiva Rose were among those who turned out with juniors in tow, dressed in Stella McCartney. “Stella loves kids so much and gets their sense of fun and adventure,” said Blair, whose 2-month-old son Arthur was dressed in a citrus-emblazoned onesie. “She is always so whimsical. This jumpsuit randomly has citrus fruit on it, and my favorite that he wore at the Venice Film Festival has a whole sheriff motif on it.”

Even kids old enough to have a say in what they wear liked the range. “My son loves the fact that there are pictures on the front of the T-shirts,” said Jessica Capshaw of her 3-year-old-son Luke. “But more than that, I am a fan of McCartney’s worldview and mindfulness. Whether it’s having delicious vegetarian food or the crafts the kids are making that are of recycled materials or the California Baby sunscreen station. I trust her in every aspect when it comes to kids. That’s why I’m here.”

The Children’s Action Network was at the center of the launch, with McCartney donating 10% of all sales from the event to the charity as well as 100% of the proceeds from a silent auction.

McCartney's spring-summer 2012 kids collection is expected to be in stores and online in January. Prices range from $40 to $150.

-- Raha Lewis

Photos: Top, Some of the garments from Stella McCartney's kids collection for spring-summer 2012. Credit: Stella McCartney. Middle, Jessica Capshaw and son Luke in the petting zoo; Bottom, Monet Mazur, left, Selma Blair with son Arthur and Krista Smith, Vanity Fair's West Coast editor. Credit for both party pictures: Donato / Wire Image